Secretary of State and other federal officials on, measures necessary to conserve marine 

 mammals and their habitats internationally, as well as domestically. During 1998 the 

 Commission participated in interagency efforts to develop U.S. positions on international 

 conservation regimes, including those concerning whaling and the protection of Antarctic and 

 Arctic resources. In addition, as discussed in Chapter II, the Commission participated in efforts 

 to negotiate a bilateral agreement with Russia to conserve the shared population of polar bears. 



The International Whaling Commission — The International Whaling Commission 

 (IWC) is the international body responsible for regulating whaling. Because its management 

 program had proven ineffective in conserving whale stocks, the IWC adopted a moratorium on 

 commercial whaling, which has been in effect since 1986. Some types of whaling continue to 

 occur. Norway filed an objection to the moratorium and continues to take minke whales 

 conmiercially in the North Atlantic. Japan continues to conduct scientific whaling, both in the 

 Southern Ocean and the North Pacific, despite calls from the IWC for it to end its lethal 

 research. In addition, the IWC establishes quotas for certain whale stocks for aboriginal 

 subsistence whaling. Such quotas have been established for bowhead whales and gray whales, 

 which may be taken by Natives in Alaska and Washington, respectively. 



During 1998 the IWC continued its work on developing a revised management scheme 

 under which commercial whaling might be resumed. Although a revised management procedure, 

 under which allowable catch levels would be established, has been agreed to, the IWC members 

 have yet to agree to other aspects including a system of monitoring and enforcement to ensure 

 compliance with the catch limits and other conservation measures it may adopt. 



In 1998 the Commission worked with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

 Administration in developing U.S. positions on issues before the IWC, and representatives of 

 the Commission participated in meetings of the IWC and its Scientific Committee. 



Conservation of Marine Mammals and Their Habitats in the Southern Ocean — 



Many species of seals, whales, dolphins, and porpoises inhabit the Southern Ocean (the seas 

 surrounding Antarctica). The Commission conducts a continuing review of activities in 

 Antarctica and the Southern Ocean that could affect marine mammals directly or indirectly. This 

 section describes the first meeting of the environmental protection committee established by the 

 Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty, which entered into force on 14 

 January 1998. It also describes U.S. efforts to implement the Protocol and related matters 

 considered at the 22nd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting held in Tromso, Norway, on 25 

 May-5 June 1998. It describes ongoing efforts by the Commission and the Scientific Committee 

 for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources to control the explosive growth of 

 fisheries for toothfish {Dissostichus eleginoides and D. mawsoni) in the Southern Ocean, 

 including U.S. efforts to establish a catch certification scheme. It also describes the research 

 programs being conducted by the National Marine Fisheries Service and the National Science 

 Foundation to obtain information needed to effectively implement the Convention for the 

 Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources. 



XI 



